Sidewalk retail

You can license the use of sidewalk property owned by the City of Vancouver for retail and entertainment purposes. Visit the pages listed below to read more about these opportunities.

Patio Day 2015

Council recently approved a motion for “Patio Day”, a one-day celebration of local food and culture happening August 3 (BC Day).

During Patio Day, restaurants and businesses will be allowed to place temporary patios on the sidewalk or, if there’s not enough space on the sidewalk, in a parking stall(s) directly in front of their property. Please note that businesses can only submit one application.

How to apply

Don't currently have a patio or have an unlicensed patio?

You can apply for a temporary patio for food and non-alcoholic beverage service.

Complete either a sidewalk application or an on-street application, as applicable, and submit electronically to patioday@vancouver.ca. Be sure to include a sketch of the patio location on your application.

No fees will be charged.

The deadline to submit for an unlicenced temporary patio is July 22, 2015.

Do you currently have a licensed patio?

You can apply for a temporary patio with food and non-alcoholic beverage service, as well as liquor service, if you wish.

Complete either a sidewalk application or an on-street application, as applicable, as well as a provincial Liquor Control and Licensing (LCLB) Temporary Change to a Liquor Licence application. Do not include credit card information on the LCLB form.

Both applications should be submitted electronically together to patioday@vancouver.ca. Be sure to include a sketch of the patio location on your application.

We will be reviewing your application material and, if approved, you will be advised to fax the LCLB temporary change application with credit card information to 250-952-7066.

No City of Vancouver fees will be charged. Provincial application fees will apply ($110 for food-primary applications, and $330 for liquor-primary applications).

The deadline to submit for a licensed temporary patio is July 15, 2015 by 12:00 noon.

A mobile special event vending permit lets you to sell goods within two blocks of the boundary of a City-recognized special event that is already at capacity with other vendors. Permits are sold by the day.